Team Market Owner Kevin Mays Brings Togetherness To The Community And Court With Flint United
The Flint, Michigan native and Central Michigan alum has used an open-minded approach and vast experience in sports to plant seeds of success in The Basketball League
Flint, Michigan — The name says it all: the Flint United.
Even if you’re not the least bit familiar with the inner workings of being part of a professional basketball league like TBL and what that all entails behind the scenes for those actually at the top tasked with making crucial decisions for the betterment of the organization, you can easily appreciate all of the energy and effort that goes into making such a venture thrive and sustain itself from the ground-up. Before players even have the chance to actually step on the floor for a practice or a game, there has to be a true sense of purpose from the jump.
Togetherness. Made whole. A “united” front.
That’s the heart of what has taken shape for the Flint United, led by Team Market Owner and proud Flint native, Kevin Mays, over the course of the past year to prep for the 2022 TBL season. A former high school track star in Michigan before going on to play college football at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant, Kevin’s previous experience as the Director of Sales for the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League and an Operations Manager with the United States Soccer League’s Flint City Bucks both paved the way for his role as Team Market Owner and provided a blueprint of sorts to build the United upon.
Having a plan is one thing. Putting it into action can be a whole different story, one that extends from the court to the community and back again while racking up wins each step of the way. And while Kevin and the United as an organization have successfully been able to put the word “unity” in “community” in Flint, he’ll be the first to tell you about the importance of surrounding yourself with “basketball minds” and what giving back to his hometown truly means to him.
Prior to the Flint United hosting a pair of weekend home games at the Dort Event Center against in-state foe Detroit Hustle and first place Jamestown Jackals, Kevin Mays took time to pull back the curtain on the Flint United and delve into their mission to make their name known across the state of Michigan, the United States, and The Basketball League.
This TBL season is flying by with the regular season drawing to a close and the postseason about to get underway. Can you flashback to last offseason after your first year in TBL and share some expectations you had for the organization heading into this season? What mattered most at that time when you considered tipping-off in Flint for 2022?
My first expectation is always to put our athletes in the best position to develop and grow as athletes, giving them tools and resources to operate as professionals. This season, our team practiced in a sports complex, complete with multiple hoops, a full strength & conditioning facility, a pool, hot tub, and sauna. We also have a team chiropractor, athletic trainer, and physical therapist. These were vital for us, in making sure our athletes are most prepared to compete.
Some challenges were coming into the season and not knowing how COVID could affect us. While we didn’t face any cases on the court, it certainly changed the landscape of things as the world began to get back to some sense of normalcy.
Ultimately, tipping off in 2022, we wanted to continue to deliver the vision TBL has set in place, provide great opportunities for our athletes, and grow the game of basketball across the nation and in our community.
Even before putting a product on the floor to compete, assembling a "front office" who knows their roles can be key to the success of a team. What was important to you when constructing the United starting at the top in those key "front office" roles?
I’ve got a pretty deep background in sports business, and I’ve built and maintained great relationships in my community. The most important piece to building the front office was finding people who also complimented those characteristics. Our budgets aren’t huge, so being resourceful, creative and open-minded we’re most important in early stages of development.
Second, I’m not a basketball player – didn’t play competitive hoops after 7th grade. So, I never claim to be an expert on the court. I wanted to make sure I brought in basketball minds to make sure we put a great product on the court.
That's a great lead into my next question -- about bringing in basketball minds and how important that is. You guys have had great leadership on the sidelines, first with Charlie Bell and now Keno Davis as head coach. What do you appreciate the most about Coach Davis? And how crucial is it for an organization to ensure they have the right voice leading the way?
Charlie was vital to us making a splash and invigorating the community, from Michigan State to the NBA, it was a no brainer for us at the time. Then, to have the opportunity to bring in Keno this season, our relationship dates back to both of our times at Central Michigan. A former NCAA Associated Press Head Coach of the Year, was also a no brainer. To have someone who understands the game at this level, right where the players are, and how to develop them for the next level is priceless.
I have heard you talk about how the community outreach Flint United is providing has been a "revolutionary moment" for you personally and offers a level of connectivity. Can you share more about what that means to you and how you guys are earning victories off of the court as well this season?
It’s no secret what the City of Flint has endured – and what we continue to endure – from poverty, violence, to the lack of clean drinking water.
While it’s still a work in progress, our main goal is to build industry. Professional sports is not only “a way out” for athletes, but business professionals as well. We have been able to put our athletes in commercials, in the Boys & Girls Club, alongside a World Championship boxer and fighter like Claressa Shields, and Super Bowl Champion Alaric Jackson from the Los Angeles Rams. It’s our hope that the sum of all of these experiences spark ideas that will inspire the community, on and off the court.
As a Flint native, you have to be very proud of the journey you've traveled to get to this point as a Team Market Owner. From a standout track star in high school to playing college football at Central Michigan University, what have you carried over from those two life experiences that you rely on in your business/team ownership life?
For sure, I’ve been blessed beyond a doubt. The biggest thing that I carry over is just the will to persist, work through obstacles, and understanding that whichever path I choose won’t be without adversity. In sports, I wasn’t always the best, there was work involved. In business, I’m not the best, there’s work involved. It’s all work, it’s just seeing your vision through and being proud of the outcome.
Thanks to you guys in Flint, the Detroit Hustle, and Lansing Pharaohs there has developed a respected in-state rivalry in the TBL in Michigan...who is coming away with that championship belt?
It’s definitely going to be Lansing this season. Chris Jackson and the Lansing Pharaohs have built a great team and organization in their first season. We’ve got them in the crosshairs for next season though, don’t you worry.
There are a number of teams set to join TBL in 2023 with Seattle and Fayetteville announced thus far. What words of insight and advice would you give to those organizations to set them up for success, from one Team Market Owner to another?
Be patient with yourself. These organizations and the community that need to thrive takes time to build. It’s one of the most rewarding experiences you’ll have, just see all your dreams through. To stay on top of what you love and never give up. It can be done. But at the same time, everyone's situation is different.
*Lead photo credit to Good Boy
The Around The Basketball League newsletter brings you the latest news, updates, insight, and interviews on the TBL. Follow ATBL on Twitter.
Wendell Maxey has covered and written about professional basketball and sports for 19 years and has previously been featured on ESPN.com, NBA.com, USA Today, FOX Sports, and SLAM Magazine among other publications and outlets. Connect with him on Twitter and LinkedIn or read through his archive on Linktree.